FRUIT-GROWERS’ REPORT. 
385 
endeavors to grow, land in which the water never rises to 
within six feet of the surface, and the surface when once 
broken so loose as to drift before the wind; and if it were not 
paradoxical, I might say that no matter how wet it might be, 
it would always be dry; or in other words no thunder shower 
or drenching rain storm could ever wet it. 
To plant an orchard here will cost more labor than on the 
lime region, or the white oak ridges, of wffiich we have before 
spoken, but not so much that the farmer need despair of suc¬ 
cess. The proper materials for planting in this case may be a 
little farther off, but not so far as many suppose. This ridge 
soil is destitute of vegetable matter, lime, phosphates and pot¬ 
ash; and these must be supplied. Men should learn, if they 
have not already done so, that if the proper materials of soil 
are not where they would have them, then they may have these 
by sufficient labor; and it is their duty to perform this portion 
of the work. I would plant trees in such soil in this manner : 
Remove the surface as in the lime region, and then excavate a 
hole, at least five feet across and three feet deep, and as the 
earth removed would be of no use on the land it had better be 
carted off. This hole should then be filled with a soil prepared 
in the following manner: A cubic yard, or what is the same 
thing, a good wagon load of black soil, which can be found 
abundantly in the low grounds near by, should be taken out of 
its bed as early in the summer as the first of August, and 
placed on dry ground and remain there until it will pulverize 
with the shovel; a good freezing during one winter will im¬ 
prove it. This yard of soil should receive at least a peck of 
fresh lime and half a bushel of clay. The latter will be best 
prepared for mixing by removing it from its bed to some dry 
place, and if it be kept dry it may be reduced to small par¬ 
ticles, or even powder, and in that condition stirred into your 
compost. Compact muck should not be chosen as it will take 
at least a year to become thoroughly rotten, and even then it 
would be too stimulating; black soil is the material which is 
wanted and which can often be found fit for use. Having pre¬ 
pared the soil, and carted it to the place where it is to be 
25 
